If you have spent hundreds of dollars on a custom made kilt, it is vitally important to store it correctly in order to maximize the longevity of your kilt. This increases the chances of passing down your beloved garment to the next generation. So, we thought we’d create an article to explore our top kilt care tips.
Kilt Care Top Tip – Make Sure You Air It
Central to the success of the storage procedure it to make sure your kilt is aired thoroughly. This ensures that no smells are stored. If you can air it outside on a bright sunny day, then this would be best. If you live in Scotland for example, these days are a rarity! Instead, you may wish to hang your kilt in the bathroom and switch on the shower to allow the material to absorb the steam.
Important – No matter how many times we say this, some people still put the kilt in the shower! Just hang it on the door instead of putting it in the actual shower.
Next, make sure you dry the kilt thoroughly before storing it away until it needs to be worn again.
If you only wear your kilt on select occasions, it is highly recommended that you buy a kilt hanger. This will secure the garment along the entire top to ensure no damage occurs. The hanger contains four clips to secure it safely. The hanger itself is made of the finest quality cherry wood, so this is built to carry the weight. The hanger is 20 inches wide, so it can hold all sizes – from 5 yards to 8 yards. It is important that you hold the front and back of the kilt together when storing. This prevents any sagging from occurring. If you take kilt care seriously, you should definitely get a hanger.
It is important when you hang it in your wardrobe to give it plenty of space. This may seem strange, but this allows the wool to breath. For maximum protection, you may wish to make use of a kilt carrier.
How to Clean a Kilt?
No matter how careful we are, spills and stains may appear after wearing. Fear not, you can do something about this if you go about it in the right way. It is vitally important that you dab instead of rub. We would recommend that you use a lint-free cloth, that is dampened slightly. Make sure it is clean of course!
Washable Casual Kilt
If you think you will likely stain the material, then why not go for a Casual Kilt, which is machine washable. When setting a wash, make sure you set the temperature no higher than 30°. If you have different settings, we would recommend a short spin cycle on the synthetic setting to reduce the chances of any creasing. Before washing, make sure you tie the straps together to prevent any damage.
After washing, it can be hanged on your hanger and this should eliminate the need to iron.
Non Machine Washable Kilt – How to Clean?
Since machine washing is not an option, we would recommend that you enlist the help of professional cleaner. Wool is a great material, that is resistant to dirt and incredibly resilient, so you will surprised as to what a professional cleaner can do. Before you allow them to clean it, make sure they have had experience of doing other kilts before yours!
In order to reduce the likelihood of the build up of any dust or lint, it is advised to brush the wool down using a clothes brush (with soft bristles). This is a top kilt care tip!
How to Iron a Kilt?
As discussed above, it is more than likely than you will not need to iron. This is because any creases which may appear in the wool will more than likely drop out naturally after a few days, if you use a hanger correctly. You can increase the likelihood of the creases dropping out by putting it in a steamy room.
But, if time is precious and you feel like you need to iron, here is what to do.
Our Casual Kilt product can be ironed without fear of damage. For this, set your iron to a cool setting. It is essential that you align your pleats properly, and try and not let the pleats dangle off the ironing board to achieve the best results. It may be helpful if a family member or friend can hold up the pleats while you iron.
If you buy our 5 Yard or 8 Yard Kilt, you will need to take a little more care. Do this at your own risk. You can set the iron to a steam setting, and first put the apron on your ironing board, with the underside of the kilt facing directly to you. Insert an ironing cloth over the area you intend to iron so it is protected, and carefully place the iron on top of your ironing cloth. Do not iron onto the wool directly. Make sure that you only place the iron onto the cloth and don’t move the iron back and forth. If you iron onto the wool directly, it will be damaged. You will notice if you do this that the wool appears shiny, which will ruin the overall look.
How to Transport a Kilt?
If you need to transport, make sure you store it in a carrier. Then you can hang the carrier on the suit hook in the back of your car. For longer distances where space is at a premium, you may wish to buy a kilt roll.
The roll takes up less room than a carrier, but still offers good protection. When rolled, you will not need to iron if you do it correctly.
The carrier that we sell on our website allows you to store other accessories aswell. This is useful if you need to transport a full outfit. The bag has two outer pockets for maybe a sporran or your kilt hose.
You will notice that there is also a larger pocket for other bulkier accessories. Within the carrier itself, there is a hanger with two extra straps which allows you to store your jacket and shirt along with your kilt. Then, it is possible to fold the carrier in two if required.
Do you have your own kilt care tips? Be sure to let us know!
